Today I want to share with a poem that June Hartmann brought to my attention. May peace and wellbeing be on our land and on the world.

Transcription

1 Pilgrim s Progress November 2012 Dear Pilgrims, Today I want to share with a poem that June Hartmann brought to my attention. May peace and wellbeing be on our land and on the world. Ann News in Brief A PRAYER FOR THE WORLD by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations. Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect. Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows. Let the warmth of the Sun heal us wherever we are broken. Let it burn away the fog so that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender or skin colour. Let the warmth and the brightness of the sun melt our selfishness so that we can share the joys and feel the sorrows of our neighbours. And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbours. Let the earth, nourished by the rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty. And let the mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven. Amen. November 2 Oak Song Society Concert November 3 Sacramento Valley Association Meeting 1 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012 November 9 L Club Lunch November 11 Stewardship Potluck November 15 Council Meeting November 16 Good News Mission lunch November 17 Vegetarian Dinner November 18 Joint Thanksgiving Service November 22 Thanksgiving November 25 Potuck & Games November 30 Oak Song Society Concert

2 The Oaksong Music Society Presents and the Friday Evening November 30, 2012 The Pilgrim Congregational Church 2850 Foothill Blvd. Redding Additional information & directions at Doors open at 7:15 p.m. - concert at 8 Tickets are $20 each and available at Western Swing, and Country, and a little Gypsy equals a ton of fun! The Music connection in Redding, 3086 Bechelli Lane, Redding. Phone Volume 55, Issue 10 Pastor s Message... 1 Oak Song Schedule... 2 Plant Exchange... 3 French Country Market.. 4 What We re Doing... 5 Our Opportunities... 6 About Us... 7 PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH United Church of Christ P. O. Box Fax (530) Foothill Blvd. Telephone (530) Redding, California pilgrim@shasta.com website: Editor: Diana Rose Newsletter Deadline for December is November 17 th 2 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012

3 Worship Here s a look ahead at November. It s promising to be a great start for busy season. Note the Shasta High School Madrigal singers will begin practicing in our building in November as usual, so if you plan to use the church for any purpose during the week, it would be a good idea to check with Diana first for availability. Worship highlights include: Saturday, November 3 10 to 3 (Registration begins at 9:30.) o The Sacramento Valley Association (SVA) Fall Meeting is at Pilgrim! It s been a couple of years since we ve hosted this important event and held it close to home. o Mark your calendars and plan to attend to support Megan Owens. All present will form an Ecclesiastical Council to listen to Megan and Rosie Potestio, who was in our pulpit this summer. Both have been working diligently over the years for this moment. We hope to ordain Megan and commission Rosie this day. o The cost is $10.00 per person which includes lunch and covers other costs of the meeting. Come join in and participate with members from churches across our broad Association. Sunday, November 4 o Set your alarm clocks back an hour: This is the first day standard time returns. 3 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012 Worship continued o You ll want to be at church & Sunday School on time. o Make a special effort to remember to sign in each week on the new bright red pew pads. They serve many purposes not the least of which is keeping up-to-date with address changes and knowing we re all here. Sunday, November 11 o Stewardship Sunday. o Stewardship Potluck Celebration hosted by Council will be held after worship. Saturday, November 17 o Choir practice 9 am to Noon... Christmas is around the corner. o If you re thinking about joining choir, this is a perfect time to start! Just come!! Sunday, November 18 o Thanksgiving Sunday o SCIF Service will be at the First United Methodist Church on the corner of South and East Streets at 7:30pm. Dr. Waterbury will lead the joint choir. Sunday, November 25 o The last Sunday of Ordinary Time this year. Take a breather. Advent starts the next week. We hope to see you each Sunday in November. Remember: Our lives reflect how we experience worship. Pam Thayer and Donna Nelson Worship Co-Cos Mary Forbes will again sell her hand knit and hand made items after church during November. The proceeds will be donated to the church for Christmas baskets. Get an early start on your Christmas shopping and see Mary after church! Fall Book Sale Thanks to all who donated and bought books at our Fall Book Sale. All proceeds go to local charities. Thanks also to Sally Dale, Gale Stream and Larry Solberg for their help with the Sunday sales and a HUGE thanks to George Cole for helping us take all of the left overs To the Library for their Friends of the Library sale. Paula and Dick Kahler Your Pastor/Parish Relations Committee thanks everyone who completed the Shared Ministry Review and returned it to us. We are tabulating them now and will present a summary soon:)

4 It s that time again when we want to start reminding Pilgrim members to begin bringing canned goods and turkeys to church for our annual Thanksgiving Baskets. We will be delivering 20 baskets again this year through People of Progress and delivering one to our FaithWorks family. Items needed are: Turkeys (frozen) Boxed stuffing mix 5-10 lb bags of potatoes (or boxed potato flakes) Canned: sweet potatoes, beans, corn, peaches or other fruits, cranberries, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth Gravy packets We d also like to include toothbrushes, toothpaste and warm knit hats and will gladly accept those donations also. The turkeys can be stored in the church freezer, your own freezer, or brought directly to POP, letting them know they are for Pilgrim Congregational Thanksgiving Baskets. When you sign up, let us know where your turkey will be stored so we can keep a count. If you would like to donate money towards the purchase of pies, rolls and butter we will gladly accept that also. Look for the donation boxes in the entry and in the fellowship hall beginning Sunday, November 4, Thanking you in advance, Martha Webb and Tara Swanson Outreach Co-Chairs 4 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012 We have a lot to be thankful for this year! With Thanksgiving around the corner, I want to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU to our Men s Group and Lynne Bonetti for all of the hard work you put into our new Children s Room downstairs! You folks are amazing and the kids are so appreciative! We also want to say a special thank you to Cheryl Cruse and Sara Hoxie for teaching our little Pilgrims in our new Sunday Adventures Program! So far the kids are really enjoying the different activities planned by our teachers each week! Also thank you for all of the donations so far for craft items and outside play equipment. The kids have really been having a good time. Most weeks so far we have had about 6 kids attending regularly, and that number seems to be growing! As the learning CoCo s, we have had some great feedback, and plan to grow the program throughout the year. Our kids are learning a great deal about our ministry and we would like to see to it that this continues! However we are in need of volunteers to teach January- May, if you might be interested and need more information, please contact Kaarin Brooke, kmbrooke28@gmail or Remember, you don t have to have any teaching experience! We will help guide you! We also have set a goal to get a new Youth Group growing again. If you know someone who might be interested in leading a small group of Junior High to High School aged kids please contact us! There is a need, and we would like to fulfill that need as soon as possible! Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Your Learning CoCo s: Kaarin Brooke and Cheryl Cruse SERVING (Congregational Care) Last month, the Serving Area of Ministry met with their team leaders to discuss progress, needs, finances, and concerns with an eye out for the future. This meeting was followed by the Called to Care team with Karin Lightfoot, our parish nurse discussing ways in which she can be of service in this area in conjunction with the Health and Human Services Agency. Some of the suggestions offered were providing a class at church on the services that Home Health Care are able to provide and a panel discussion on Hospice, Alzheimers, and Adult Protective Services. Karin will be a regular member on our Called to Care Team. We again ask that you notify one of us if you or someone you know are in need of personal visits, telephone calls, or other types of assistance. Blessings from your Co-Cos, Alice Anderson, Diane Hepburn, FAITHWORKS UPDATE Stacy who lives in Faith Works transitional housing says to thank all of you who have made donations to her and her son, Manuel who just turned three. She could use some clothes for colder weather. (tops L or XL and pants size 16) Also she is in need of blankets, and a few baking pans. She would really appreciate a dresser and a medium sized desk as she studies for finals. Please keep her and Manuel in your prayers. Small items may be left in the large basket in the F. Hall. Questions about donations???...call Molly Cole or Gail Stream.

5 Council Minutes continued Council Minutes October 18, 2012 The meeting began with an opening prayer given by John Crowe. In attendance: Jim Carr, Ann Corrin, John Crowe, Bill Justice, Paula Kahler and Pam Thayer. Financial: Bill reported that Lu is out of town and that she will send reports upon her return. He mentioned that September was a good month and that we were able to repay some borrowed funds. A new refrigerator has been purchased as the old one no longer ran cold enough. Calendar: The months of November and December calendars were set. Dates to remember: 11/03/2012 SVA meeting at Pilgrim 10:00 3:00 11/11/2012 Stewardship Sunday pot-luck sponsored by the Council 11/15/2012 Council meeting/ pot-luck 6:30 significant others invited to attend 12/01/2012 budget requests due 12/22/2012 Ann & Den s open house 4:00-8:00 01/27/2013 Annual Meeting At this time, there will be no Council meeting in December. Minister s report: Ann reflected on Rick s power point presentation at the September Council meeting. She shared items of interest from a recent conference she attended: branding 5 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012 that we need to consistently use the comma so that people make the connection to Pilgrim Church, and that we need to think missional our emphasis should be mission driven and openly concerned. She also reviewed the history of the National Office its growth and current standing. Her final comment was that we should remember Small groups can make big things happen. New Business: The Pastoral Relations surveys are coming in. So far, 17 Feed the Need forms have been returned. Sunday School: It was emphasized that Sunday School should be a top priority with everyone behind it. Volunteers: There is an opportunity for interested individuals to participate in catering special events, such as Oak Song concerts, as money-making activities. Next meeting: November 15, 2012, 6:30 Pot-luck at Ann s with significant others invited. Jim Carr, acting clerk Salvation Army Bell Ringers--Molly has contacted the Salvation Army and signed us up for two Sundays of bell ringing, on November 24 and December 1st at Food Max. Pilgrim s are asked to put in a one-hour shift as a bell ringer. In the past we have collected a fairly satisfying amount during our bell ringing duty. Watch for sign-ups after worship or call Molly at THE FIRST THANKSGIVING at PLYMOUTH Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together. Edward Winslow In early autumn of 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest, as was the English custom. During this time, many of the Indians coming... amongst the rest their great king Massasoit, with some ninety men. That 1621 celebration is remembered as the First Thanksgiving in Plymouth. The Pilgrims did not call this harvest festival a Thanksgiving, although they did give thanks to God. To them, a Day of Thanksgiving was purely religious. The first recorded religious Day of Thanksgiving was held in 1623 in response to a providential rainfall. Thanksgiving is celebrated at the expense of Native Peoples who had to give up their lands and culture for America to become what it is today. The religious day of thanksgiving and the harvest festival evolved into a single event: a yearly Thanksgiving, proclaimed by individual governors for a Thursday in November. The custom of an annual Thanksgiving celebrating abundance and family spread across America. Some presidents proclaimed Thanksgivings, others did not. Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of an annual national Thanksgiving in Thanksgiving is an enduring symbol from which millions of immigrants have learned Americanism. While not all Native Peoples celebrate the day, the story of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag sharing a harvest celebration remains an inspiration to many.

6 Thanks November Volunteers USHERS SOUND OPERATORS LITURGISTS FELLOWSHIP HOSTS November 4 November 4 November 4 November 4 Ruthie & Norm Faith Paula Damico Claudine Cupples Tony Armsdon Diane Hepburn Marge Bland Diane Hepburn November 11 November 11 November 11 November 11 Don & Sue Crandell Peggie Linville Tara Swanson John Crowe Sue Crandell Betty Gronwoldt Barbara Cross November 18 November 18 November 18 November 18 John Crowe Linda Lack Larry Solberg Joanne Nelson Glenn Hoxie Sylvia Cantu Paula Damico Cynthia Turbin November 25 November 25 November 25 November 25 Sonny/Bev Stupek Dick & Paula Kahler Viv Thompson John Crowe Diane Hepburn Peggy LaBella Rosemary Thomas FELLOWSHIP VOLUNTEERS Marge Bland Lynne Bonetti Heidi Brahms Barbara Cross Paula Damico Norm & Ruthie Faith Micki Forell Betty Gronwoldt* Diane Hepburn Peggy LaBella* Phyllis Solberg Rosemary Thomas Cynthia Turbin Alternates Ceil Harvey Berny Patchen Ethel Schmdt * Co-chairs 6 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012

7 Margie Adkins Angela Mitchell VEGETARIAN POTLUCK Rhoda Antos Donna Nelson Caroline Bosecker Marge Stewart Join us at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 17, in the Fellowship Hall Wayne Bosecker Stu Stewart B J Edwards Gartner Family Bob Hegge for a pre-thanksgiving feast. Bring Connie Hegge your favorite vegetarian holiday 1 Clay Harvey Ruth Horner Annual Plant Exchange dish along with the recipe and your own table service. Hot water will be available for tea. This is one meeting you won t want to miss because the food will be outstanding! Call me at with any questions. Y all come now, Alice 5 Betty Gronnwoldt 6 Rebecca Lightfoot 10 Judy Salter 11 Dave Burrell 13 Dillon Draper 15 Reva Taylor Scott Putnam 16 Amanda Lightfoot 17 Pam Thayer William Ward Pat Tucker 19 Karin Lightfoot 23 Caroline Bosecker 30 Chazmin Crowe Lots of people had a good time finding plants and talking garden. Every plant found a home. Madrigal Tickets 2012 This year all tickets for the Madrigal Dinner will be sold exclusively at the Cascade Theater. Ticket sales will begin on November 3rd and they can be purchased by visiting the Cascade Theater, by phone at or online at The ticket price is the same as in the past $35 (plus a small fee charged by Cascade Theatre.) The performance date are : Wed. thru Sat., Dec 5-8 Wed. thru Sat., Dec Tickets will no longer be sold to church members after worship. 7 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012

8 Pilgrim Congregational Church 2850 Foothill Boulevard Redding, CA Mailing: P.O. Box Redding, CA Address Service Requested 8 Pilgrim s Progress November, 2012